Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-08-19

Than thev were the eenters round
which most events of the time revolveo;
now they are little more than tipphnG-
houses for the lower classes.
The various devices used as signs are
Of Infinite variety and varying degrees
of interest. from the heads, or por-
traits of modern political. naval or
military celebrities, to such signs as the
Rose and Crown, the Fleur-de-Lys, the
Spread Eagle, the Cross Keys, our
numerous Arms, Enthusiastically colored
animals Of all kinds, and many other
similar devices. Signs OF the former
kind require little or no explanation;
thew are usually modern and I'M
interesting vulgarisms, and tne,r
meaning are self-apparent. With
signs OF the latter class, how
ever, the case is generally far diff
ferent, and search for their original
significance. often much obscur"d by
the mists of antiquity, is usually
an interesting one. As rule
such signs will be sc-ca 70
have been derived from the armorial
bearings Of some sovereign. noble OF
other historical parsonage.
From the quaint and almost forgot
ten science Of heraldry, indeed, has
been derived large majority OF our
Oldest and most interesting signs. This
fact need cause no surprise when 1t Is
remembered that in former days every
one was familiar with this so-called
science" The incomprehensible jar
gon, spoken Of as "blazon" by heraldic
writer's, and the various devices appear
ing on all modern coats Of arms, though
little more nowadays than grotesque
hieroglyphics to most, were once read
and perfectly understood even by the
common people. A knowledge
Of heraldry was once, prob
ably, as general as . knowledge
of the ':three Rs" il now. 1t was
no wonder, therefore. that the idea
early suggested itself to the minds OF
tradesmen and others to use their own
coats OF arms-when they had any-or
those Of the great trade guild to which
they belonged, or those of their land
lord, or some patron, as signs. his
convenient custom, once established,
would be sure to be largely followed;
there can, indeed, be no question that
in this way arose the custom OF naming
houses the "So-and-so Arms" At the
present time. the custom itself remains,
though its origin has been almost en-
tirely lost sight Of Many inns have in
consequence como TO be known as the
Arms of persons, trades, places, and
things which never did, and never
could, bear coat of arms. Such
signs, for instance, as the Lii
liput Arms the Cricketers' Arms,
and the Libra Arms. are modern
and meaningless absurdities. Clearly
the origin OF the Kings Arms had
never occurred to the simple clodhop-
per of whom it is related that he once
walked many miles to see King George
". on one Of his journeys, and who
came home greatly disappointed; for
he found the King had arms like other
men, while he had always understood
that His Majesty's right arm was a
lion, and his left unicorn. Arms Of
various kinds form large proportion
of our modern signs, often as much as
ten per cent, and sometimes double
that in particular districts. AS gen
eral rule, where house has displayed
for many years together an armorial
sign, the coat will be found to be
that of the largest landowner or mos
prominent parsonage in the district.
When the general knowledge o.
heraldry began to decline, and armoriaI
bearings fell largely into disuse, m ANY
houses, formerly known as the Some
body's Arms, probably came gradually
to be called after, and distinguished by
the most prominent "charge" in thu
coat, or after the "crest' of one Of the
supporters, which might have been
in heraldic blazon. lion gules (red),
boar azure (blue), white hart, or
rose crowned. Thus undoubtedly or
iginated many strange signs which ar
still common.
The personal badges" adopted b,
kings and great mobiles in early times
and worn on the>arm by their servant
and retainers, have also given origin t.
many similar signs. Thus, the Whit
Hart-one of our very commonest sign
beard devices-represents the favorit
badge of King Richard H., although
the white hart has also a legendary OK
istence. The Rose and Crown-anoth
er extremely abundant sign-owes it
existence to the fact that most O
the earlier English sovereigns used
rose crowned as badge. TIL
Blue Boar, the badge of the once power
full De Veres, Earls of Oxford, is to thi
day eommoner in the county of Essex
where lay the family seat, than any
where else. The Red Lion, another G
our very commonest signs, is probabl
, in the same way derived from the pei
sonal badge of John of Gaunt, Duke @
: Lancaster, though it doubtless repre-
sents also the lion in the arms of Scot
land. As rule. Enthusiastically colore
animals will be found to have had a
heraldic origin. Creatures in thei
natural colors either may or may nc
have been derived from heraldry; thu.
Tie Greyhound, though it has figure
! both as the badge, and one or both q
the supporters" Of the arms Of sewers
English sovereigns, may owe its fire
quent appearance on the sign-board t